France : In the Midst of Phonegate: the “Smoke and Mirrors” Announcements of Cédric O

In the midst of Phonegate: the “smoke and mirrors” announcements of Cédric O
Equipe Phonegate, 14 octobre 2020

Should cell phone users and people living near base stations be reassured by the announcements made by the Secretary of State for the Digital Transition and Electronic Communications, concerning among others, digital technology and 5G? Our answer is clearly NO!

Indeed, we see it as a mere communication campaign to try to reassure our fellow citizens, who are more and more numerous, to no longer trust the sincerity of the public authorities regarding the health risks linked to mobile phone radiation.

As a reminder, in October 2019, following the release of the report by ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environment and Occupation Health & Safety), “Mobile phones worn close to the body and health”, the Government had announced a number of measures in a press release. None of the most important ones has been followed up!

What is the status of the SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) tests carried out in contact with the body (zero millimeters) and France’s discussions with the European Commission on this subject? Nowhere, and yet, since its first report in July 2016, our health agency has strongly recommended this change in measurement standards to the public authorities.

A year ago, ANSES also wished to withdraw or update cell phones put on the market before June 2017. According to our estimate, more than 250 models are concerned by this request. A round table was to be organized by the Government with the manufacturers. In fact, we were able to discuss the subject at the very beginning of the year with the office of Agnès Pannier-Runacher, who was Secretary of State to the Minister of the Economy and Finance in the previous government. Nothing has been done since then. Why has nothing been done?

Cédric O in his press release announced, among others, a doubling of the number of control measures of the SAR in 2021, i.e. 140 per year. We say it again emphatically, this is useless if the indicators governing the measurement of the SAR remain unchanged. On the contrary, this would give consumers a false idea of their real level of exposure.

It is becoming essential to review all of the standards governing the regulation of not only cell phones and but also relay antennas, even more so in the context of the will of the government and industry’s desire to develop 5G.

Moreover, it is the request of Mr. Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, in his report of July 2016:

“The Agency recommends… that the reference levels aiming to limit environmental exposure to electromagnetic radiofrequency fields (related to distant sources*) be reconsidered, in order to ensure that the safety margins are large enough to protect the health and safety of the general population, and more particularly of children.”

For Dr. Marc Arazi, President of Phonegate Alert:

“Failure to do so, or delaying the revision of regulatory exposure values and exposure indicators, would undoubtedly be inexcusable negligence on the part of the Government in terms of public health”.

https://www.phonegatealert.org/en/in-the-midst-of-phonegate-the-smoke-and-mirrors-announcements-of-cedric-o